Section 1: Adding and Subtracting Negative Numbers

In this section we look at adding and subtracting when negative numbers are
involved.
We will use a number line like the one below to help us.

We already know what happens when we add or subtract positive numbers.

If you add a positive number you move to the right on a number line.
If you subtract a positive number you move to the left on a number line.
Always start from the position of the first number.
Adding Examples Subtracting Examples
3 + 5 = 8 (start at 3 and move 5 to the 9 - 7 = 2 (start at 9 and move 7 to the
right) left)
-4 + 5 = 1 (start at -4 and move 5 to the 3 - 7 = -4 (start at 3 and move 7 to the
right) left)
-9 + 5 = -4 (start at -9 and move 5 to -1 - 7 = -8 (start at -1 and move 7 to
the right) the left)

We can also use a number line when adding or subtracting negative numbers.

Adding or subtracting a negative number goes in the opposite direction to adding

or subtracting a positive number.
If you add a negative number you move to the left on a number line.
If you subtract a negative number you move to the right on a number line.
Again, start the movement from the position of the first number.
Adding Examples Subtracting Examples
7 + (-4) = 3 (start at 7 and move 4 to 4 - (-3) = 7 (start at 4 and move 3 to the
the left) right)
1 + (-4) = -3 (start at 1 and move 4 to -2 - (-3) = 1 (start at -2 and move 3 to
the left) the right)
-3 + (-4) = -7 (start at -3 and move 4 to -8 - (-3) = -5 (start at -8 and move 3 to
the left) the right)
This table may help you remember the rules:

Adding a positive - move right Subtracting a positive - move left

Adding a negative - move left Subtracting a negative - move right
Remember that it doesn't matter whether
you start with a positive or negative number

Exercises

Question 1
Use a number line to work out the following calculations:

(a) -4 + 6 =
(b) -5 + 8 =
(c) -1 + 3 =
(d) -4 + 7 =
(e) 2 + (-3) =
(f) -1 + (-4) =
(g) -2 + (-3) =
(h) -6 + 6 =
(i) -7 + 4 =
(j) -6 + 2 =
(k) -7 + 2 =
(l) 5 + (-5) =

Question 2
Use a number line to calculate:

(a) 4 - 6 =
(b) 5 - 7 =
(c) 2 - 4 =
(d) -1 - 1 =
(e) -3 - 2 =
(f) -4 - (-1) =
(g) 3 - (-4) =
(h) 5 - (-6) =
(i) 8 - 12 =
(j) -5 - (-1) =
(k) 4 - 9 =
(l) -4 - (-4) =

Question 3
Complete this addition table:
+ -4 -2 0 2 4

-3
-1
1
3

Question 4
Fill in the missing numbers on this addition table:
+ 1 3

-5 -5 -1
-3
0
-2 0

Question 5
Fill in the missing number in each of these equations:

(a) 4 + =1
(b) 3 - = -6
(c) -6 + = -7
(d) +7=2
(e) - 7 = -8
(f) 4 - =7

Question 6
Write down the next five terms in each of the sequences below.
You must separate the numbers in your answer with commas, like this:

(a) 10, 8, 6, 4,
(b) -10, -7, -4, -1,
(c) 19, 14, 9, 4,
(d) -1, -3, -5, -7,
(e) -20, -16, -12, -8,
(f) -5, -10, -15, -20,
(g) 18, 15, 12, 9,
(h) -16, -12, -8, -4,

Question 7
Overnight, the temperature dropped from 5 ºC to -14 ºC.
By how many degrees did the temperature fall?
ºC

Question 8
One day the level of the water in a river was 30 cm above its average level.
One week later it was 12 cm below its average level.
How far did the water level drop in the week?
cm

Question 9
A chest of treasure was hidden in the year 64 BC and found in 284 AD.
For how long was the chest hidden?
years
 Section 2 : Multiplying and Dividing using Negative Numbers

In this section we look at how to multiply and divide when both negative and
positive numbers are involved.
We already know how to multiply and divide positive numbers, and working with
negative numbers is quite similar.

Example 1
We will start by trying to work out the answer to 5 × (-4).
First of all, think about the sum 5 × 4. The answer is 20.
This is the same as 4 + 4 + 4 + 4 + 4, which gives 20.
In the same way, the sum 5 × (-4) can be written (-4) + (-4) + (-4) + (-4) + (-4),
which gives -20.

We can see from this that:

5 × 4 (a positive number multiplied by a positive number) gives 20 (a positive
answer).
5 × (-4) (a positive number multiplied by a negative number) gives -
20 (a negative answer).

Example 2
Now we will work out the answer to (-4) × 5.
Multiplications work both ways round, for example 3 × 4 is the same as 4 × 3.
In the same way, (-4) × 5 must be the same as 5 × (-4).
We already know that the answer to this is -20.

Now we can see that:

(-4) × 5 (a negative number multiplied by a positive number) gives -
20 (a negative answer).

Example 3
Work out the answer to (-4) × (-5).
We start by doing the multiplication without the signs: 4 × 5 = 20.
The table above tells us that a negative number multiplied by a negative
number gives a positive answer.
We can now see that the answer to (-4) × (-5) must be 20.
 Rules for Multiplication and Division
We can summarise the rules for multiplying and dividing
two numbers as follows:
If the signs are the same (both positive or both negative),
the answer will be positive.
If the signs are different (one positive and one negative), the answer
will be negative.

Exercises

Question 1
Work out the answers to the following multiplications without using a calculator:

(a) (-7) × 2 =
(b) (-4) × 8 =
(c) (-2) × (-5) =
(d) (-6) × (-3) =
(e) (-3) × 7 =
(f) (-10) × (-4) =
(g) 8 × 4 =
(h) 3 × (-6) =
(i) (-7) × (-2) =
(j) (-4) × (-5) =
(k) (-7) × 0 =
(l) 8 × (-5) =

Question 2
Work out the answers to the following divisions without using a calculator:

(a) (-10) ÷ (-2) =

(b) (-15) ÷ 5 =
(c) 18 ÷ (-3) =
(d) 14 ÷ (-7) =
(e) (-21) ÷ (-3) =
(f) (-45) ÷ 9 =
(g) 50 ÷ (-5) =
(h) (-100) ÷ (-4) =
(i) 80 ÷ (-2) =
(j) 26 ÷ (-13) =
(k) (-70) ÷ (-7) =
(l) (-42) ÷ 7 =

Question 3
Complete these multiplication tables:
(a) × 1 2 3 4 (b) × 1 0 -1 -2 -3

-1 -4
-2 -2
-3 0
-4 1

Question 4
Complete these multiplication tables:
(a) × -1 (b) × -2

2 10
-2 2 -2 6
-3 -9 3 <="" center="">-12

Question 5
Fill in the missing numbers in these calculations:

(a) × 5 = -20
(b) (-80) ÷ =4
(c) 16 × = -32
(d) (-4) × = 32
(e) × (-3) = 12
(f) 40 ÷ = -8
(g) -8 × = 48
(h) -32 ÷ =4
(i) 15 × = -60
(j) 100 ÷ = -25
Problem 1:
During a cold front, the temperature in Denver, Colorado, dropped from 7∘C to 5∘
C. Kyla and Jason were discussing the change in temperature.
Kyla: “Wow, I can’t believe the temperature fell 12∘ C.”
Jason: “What are you talking about? The temperature only fell 2∘ C.”
Who is correct?
Choose 1 answer:
A Kyla
B Jason

Problem 2:
Nikki and her family are traveling to Geneva for winter holiday, and it is going to
be cold! Today’s forecast says that Geneva is 12∘ C colder than Nikki's hometown.
Using the information in the table below, select Nikki's hometown.

Choose 1 answer:
A Miami
B San FranciscoC)
C Quebec City

Problem 3:
The Tunnel of Fear ride climbs straight up to its peak 50 meters above the
ground. Then, it drops 65 meters into an underground tunnel.
What is the elevation of the tunnel relative to the ground?

meters
Problem 4:
The student council at Spendtoomuch High School is planning a school dance. The
table below shows the budget for the dance.

What is the student council's expected profit?

Problem 5
Akash's cell phone bill was $79.99 per month for 3 months. His payments came
out of his checking account each month.
The following equation describes this situation.

Choose all answers that apply:

A. The total change in Akash's checking account as a result of these three cell
phone bills was $239.97.
B. Each month, Akash paid $239.97 from his checking account for his cell phone.
C. None of the above
Problem 6:
Grandpa Ernie is shrinking! Over the past 4years, his height decreased by a total
of 2.4. It decreased by the same amount each year.
What was the change in Grandpa Ernie's height each year?

cm
Problem 7:
 3 years ago, the residents of Planet X found a black hole leading to another
galaxy. Since then, they have been leaving Planet X at a rate of 120 residents per
year.
The following equation describes this situation:

Choose 1 answer:
A A total of 360360360 residents left Planet XXX in the past three years.
B 360360360 residents left Planet XXX each year.
C None of the above
Problem 8:
A bank records deposits as positive numbers and withdrawals as negative
numbers.
Mike withdrew $60 from his bank account 3 times.
What is the change in Mike's account balance after all 3 withdrawals?
$

Read carefully and solve.

1. When Steve woke up. His temperature was 2º C. Two hours later it was 3ºC lower.
What was his temperature then?

2. An elevator is on the twentieth floor. It goes down 11 floors and then up 5 floors.
What floor is the elevator on now?

3. A deep-sea exploring ship is pulling up a diver at the rate of 25 feet per minute.
The diver is 200 feet below sea level. How deep was the diver 10 minutes ago?

4. If it is 5º outside and the temperature will drop 17º in the next six hours, how
cold will it get?
5. Josie has $47 left on her checking account. If she writes a check for $55, what
will Josie’s balance be?

6. Joe is playing a game with a regular die. If the number that turns up is even, he
will gain 5 times the number that comes up. If it is odd, he will lose 10 times the
number that comes up. He tosses a 3. Express the results as an integer.

7. It will be – 12º tonight. The weatherman predicts it will be 25º warmer by noon
tomorrow. What will the temperature be by noon tomorrow?

8. The average temperature at the South Pole is – 45º F. The average temperature
on the Equator is 92º F. How much warmer is the average temperature on the
Equator than at the South Pole?

9. Felix reported that the coldest day on record for his town was five times colder
than yesterday’s temperature, –4º C. What was the temperature of the coldest day
on record in Felix’s town?

10. The elevation of Mt. Everest is 29,028 feet. The elevation of the Dead Sea is –
485 feet. What is the difference in the elevation between Mt. Everest and the Dead
Sea?

11. A scuba diver swam 96 feet beneath the surface of the lake. He then climbs up
49 feet. What is his depth now?

12. The temperature was –3º C last night. It is now –4º C. What was the change in
temperature?

13. While watching a football game, Lin Chow decided to list yardage gained as
positive integers and yardage lost as negative integers. After these plays, Lin
recorded 14, –7, and 9. What was the net gain or loss?

14. Pythagoras was born about 582 BC. Isaac Newton was born in 1643 AD. How
many years apart were they born.?
15. Sonny has $75 to spend. The purchase he wants to make requires $93. If he
borrows the extra money that he needs, how much does he need to borrow?

16. Two golfers completed one round of golf. The first golfer had a score of +6 and
the second golfer had a score of –3. How many more shots did the first golfer take?

17. What is the balance as a result of having a credit of $84 and a debit of $29?

18. The freezing point of water is 32º F. Tim added potassium and found out that
the freezing point went down by 8º F. What was the freezing point of the water with
the added potassium ?

19. The city’s budget is $8,000,000. The city actually spends $12,000,000. What is
the city’s deficit? 20. The local movie theater reported losses of $475 each day for
three days. What was the loss for the three days?